Last reviewed March 16, 2023 by PSY Staff

Counseling Psychology Degree Programs

Consider a featured online psychology program currently taking applications.
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University Program Admissions
University of West Alabama Online Psychology and Counseling Degrees
Multiple programs: Bachelors in Psychology, Master's in Experimental Psychology (Clinical, Healht & Sports Psych), Family Counseling, Guidance and Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and more.
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Maryville University Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The online BA in Psychology from Maryville University will prepare you with a strong foundation in the theoretical frameworks of modern psychology. No SAT or ACT scores required.
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Methodist University Online Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Gain the skills for diagnosis, clinical interview procedures, behavior analysis, and more.
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View more featured 100% online psychology programs accepting applications for 2024.

Counseling Psychology Degrees Online

A counseling degree can equate to several different kinds of career opportunities but most include you listening and helping a person or group of people work through an issue or pressure that they're experiencing.

Counseling Psychology is an applied form of psychology used by practitioners to help their clients work through behavioral, emotional, and social issues that may interfere with their daily lives. Professionals in Counseling Psychology can utilize various psychology-based and counseling tools to assess their clients and develop helpful counseling programs for personal growth.

The most popular degree route to becoming a Counseling Psychology professional is through online master's degree programs. You can find online Master's in Counseling Psychology degree programs through a simple internet search, many of which have multiple start dates per year.

Engagement in online Counseling Psychology programs can help you gain the skills needed to be a helpful partner for people with common emotional diagnoses. This career field can help you utilize psychological concepts during the assessment, diagnoses, and treatment of clients in the field.

The field of Counseling Psychology involves a unique take on professional counseling in that it considers the psychological foundation of personal and social issues interfering with emotional growth. Professionals in this field can pursue multiple routes to their career, making it a unique and interesting career field to pursue.

Psychology Counseling Degrees

As a professional Counseling Psychologist, you may also choose a specialization to help narrow down the population of people served during your career. Some of the most common concentration options in Counseling Psychology include Addiction and Rehabilitation, Marriage and Family Treatment, Children and Adolescents, and Health Psychology.

Counseling Psychology Graphic

Counseling Psychologists help everyday people to cope with stress and anxiety, solve family problems, or help with issues or problems.

Counseling involves one person helping another through advice giving or just simply listening. It has erupted as a professional career choice in recent years with the rise of societal pressures.

Counseling and psychology are two subjects that are often intertwined. The two are often mistaken for one another and even considered the same topic to some.

The Difference Between Counseling and Psychology

Counselors are slightly different in both education and application. Students that are interested in helping people with everyday stresses and emotional health will find counseling psychology to be an appropriate field, while those seeking a career working with those with serious mental illness will find it more appropriate in other applied psychology fields.

As a career choice, counseling psychology is a providing and stable choice. People constantly need guidance with stress, anxiety, and other real-life adjustments. As the pressure of society takes its tolls on individuals, the need for qualified counseling psychologists will grow.

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University Program Admissions
University of West Alabama Online Psychology and Counseling Degrees
Multiple programs: Bachelors in Psychology, Master's in Experimental Psychology (Clinical, Healht & Sports Psych), Family Counseling, Guidance and Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and more.
Website
Maryville University Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The online BA in Psychology from Maryville University will prepare you with a strong foundation in the theoretical frameworks of modern psychology. No SAT or ACT scores required.
Website
Pepperdine University Online Master of Psychology
Choose your path at Pepperdine: pursue licensure as either an LMFT or LPC and serve diverse clients with our online master’s in clinical psychology.
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Methodist University Online Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Gain the skills for diagnosis, clinical interview procedures, behavior analysis, and more.
Website
University of Texas Permian Basin Online BA in Psychology
Program provides a broad foundation of psychological science knowledge and emphasizes vital written communication and research skills that can inform and assist you in helping professions.
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Path To Working In Counseling Psychology

If you are the type of person that enjoys digging deep to solve complex issues, a career in Counseling Psychology could be the right option for you. Depending on the type of work you wish to do in the field, the path to your career could involve varying steps.

Licensure

The most common path to becoming a Counseling Psychology expert is through licensing in either counseling or psychology. Some students choose the counseling route since it can mean licensure at the master's level rather than the doctoral level required for psychology-based licensure.

The first step in either route involves engagement in a bachelor's program. Bachelor's in Psychology or Counseling may be more appropriate depending on your intended career goal, with either contributing valuable knowledge to later degree programs.

Online Master's in Counseling programs could be a great next step if you are considering licensing as a professional counselor. There are numerous online counseling programs available at this level that have received accreditation from the CACREP and can be used for licensure.

Following your master's program, licensing requirements may also include a 2 year supervised clinical experience. This can be completed through local counseling agencies, with your general supervision being conducted by a licensed professional counselor.

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Counseling Psychology Degrees

There are counseling degrees available at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral levels. Students must complete at least a Master’s program before starting a practice as a counselor.

Bachelor’s Degree (BA or BS)
Starting in undergraduate school, students interested in the field of counseling psychology will begin learning the different aspects of psychology. Most students choose a Bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology as their first degree program. This degree contains all of the basic information needed to gain a foundation in psychology. The undergraduate requirement takes most students about 4 years to complete.

Advanced Degrees
A counseling psychology degree are available at either the master’s (MA) or doctoral level (PsyD or PhD). Since most states require a master’s degree for a license, most students choose the Masters in Counseling Psychology degree. A master’s program in this field consists of coursework in group therapy, direct counseling, and behavior techniques. The program itself takes a majority of students about 2 years to complete.

A doctoral program in clinical psychology takes 4 years to complete. These programs also requires additional clinical experience.

Counseling Licensure and Resources

After completing a Master’s or Doctorate program, graduates may apply for a license through their state. You will need to check with your state counseling board for details. Most states require 1-2 years of supervised experience and completion of a state board exam for licensure. These requirements are set forth to ensure only qualified counseling psychologists can practice.

Several resources you should know if you are looking at getting into Counseling Pscyhology are:

What Career Options Are There For Counselors?

Professional counselors have a career that can provide well throughout a lifetime. Counseling psychologists work in hospitals, assisting everyday people with stress management and anxiety reduction. The everyday stresses of life can sometimes be too much for individuals to handle on their own.

Private Practice
Counseling psychologists can also work in private settings. Having a business structured around counseling can be a profitable choice for those in this career program. A counselor is effective in helping both individuals and groups get through whatever situation is hindering their happiness.

Typical Responsibilities
Counselors are trained to assist with mental development and change. These procedures are ever-changing. As a result, professionals must stay up to date on the latest trends and research throughout the scientific community.

Family Psychology and Counseling
As a professional counselor, individuals will find a career that is suitable for a variety of different settings. Families that need help with emotional turmoil look to counseling psychologist to help them adjust to each other’s needs. Individuals with overwhelming responsibility may need coached through time management or delegation of tasks.

Regardless of the issue, everyday people are constantly searching for a helping hand to assist them in getting back to normal. A career in counseling psychology will be the ticket to success for those wanting a satisfying career in psychology.

Counseling Specialization

Within Counseling, it is possible to narrow your practice to serve a specific population. Below you will find details about different counseling specializations and degree programs within that specialization.

List of Programs

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University Level Program Admissions
University of West Alabama
Bachelor / Master Online Psychology and Counseling Degrees Website
Maryville University
Bachelor Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Website
Methodist University
Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Psychology Website
University of Texas Permian Basin
Bachelor Online BA in Psychology Website
Butler University
Master Online Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling Website
Our Lady of the Lake University
Bachelor / Master Multiple Psychology & Counseling Programs Website
University of Southern California
Master Master's in School Counseling Online Website
Pepperdine University
Master Online Master's in Clinical Psychology Website
Arizona State University
Bachelor Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Website
Arizona State University
Master Online Master of Science in Psychology Website
University of New Haven
Master Online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Website
Concordia University - Saint Paul
Bachelor BA in Psychology Website
Our Lady of the Lake University
Master Master of Arts - Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Website
Our Lady of the Lake University
Master Master of Arts - School Counseling Website
Our Lady of the Lake University
Master Master of Arts in Counseling Website
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